Destination Casinos

After spending half a billion dollars on South Florida real estate, as well as hiring an army of lobbyists, why did the Malaysian gambling giant Genting fail in their bid to get casino gambling approved in the Legislature this year?

A Senate committee Monday will consider a sweeping proposal that would allow three mega-casinos in Florida, offer the possibility of additional gambling at pari-mutuel facilities and try to rein in Internet cafes.

It’s a new twist in a casino controversy that has people taking sides. The legislation proposed to bring mega destination gambling resorts to South Florida is changing and expanding gambling even more to include pari-mutuels.

Miami Beach commissioners do not want mega casinos in their city and they’re will to put up a fight to keep them out. In a unanimous vote on Wednesday, the commission passed a motion to oppose any expansion of gambling in South Florida.

During a first hearing on a so-called destination resorts bill, executives from some of the biggest casino companies in the world told the lawmakers their proposals would bring thousands of jobs and better regulation to the gambling industry in Florida.